History of New Salem, (Franklin County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Biographies:

Elisha Hunt Allen, jurist, was born at New Salem, Mass., Jan. 28, 1804, son of Samuel C. Allen, a lawyer. In 1823 he was graduated at Williams college, studied with his father, and two years later was admitted to the bar, beginning practice in Brattleboro. He subsequently removed to Bangor, Me., where he served in the legislature and represented his district in the 27th Congress as a Whig, but was defeated for the 28th Congress. He removed to Boston in 1847, and was elected to the house of representatives of the state in 1849. President Taylor made him United States consul at Honolulu in 1849, and he performed the office so acceptably that the Hawaiian government made him first minister of finance, and then chief justice. The latter office he retained for twenty years. Important negotiations were conducted between the United States and the Hawaiian governments during this term, and upon his return to America he, at various times, was the accredited minister of the Hawaiian kingdom at Washington. He was dean of the diplomatic corps at the time of his death, which occurred Jan. 1, 1883.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Ozi William Whitaker, fifth bishop of Pennsylvania, and 94th in succession in the American episcopate, was born in New Salem, Mass., May 10, 1830; son of Ira and Chloe (Wood) Whitaker. He attended New Salem and Brattleboro academies, and Amherst college; was graduated from Middlebury college in 1856; was principal of a high school at North Brookfield, Mass., 1856-60; was graduated from the General Theological seminary, New York city, in 1863, and was ordered deacon in Grace church, Boston, by the Rt. Rev. Manton Eastburn, and ordained priest in 1863, at St. Stephen's, Boston, by the same prelate. He was rector at Gold Hill, Nevada, 1863-65; Englewood, N.J., 1865-67, and at Virginia city, Nevada, 1867-69. He was elected first missionary Bishop of Nevada in 1868, and was consecrated in St. George's, New York, Oct. 13, 1869, by Bishops McIlvaine, Eastburn and Potter, assisted by Bishops Whipple and Talbot. In 1886 he was chosen assistant bishop of Pennsylvania and on the death of Bishop Stevens, in June, 1887, he succeeded to the bishopric of the diocese as the first bishop of Pennsylvania. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred on him by Kenyon in 1869 and that of LL.D. by the University of Pennsylvania in 1898.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor